Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

By Silencewillfall, Blacksburg, VA

You might not think you know much about Philip K. Dick's 1968 science fiction novel, which explores a post-nuclear-war future in which the majority of humanity has immigrated to space and are served by often rebellious androids, but you probably know more than you think. The novel is better known by its movie adaption, “Blade Runner.”

The story centers on Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter paid to track down and kill androids escaped from Martian colonies. His job is made difficult by a group of new and improved androids, who attack and injure his fellow bounty hunter. The androids' intelligence turns out to be the least of Deckard's problems. Like a character in the classic noirs of the ཤs and ཮s, he also faces a beautiful and possibly villainous femme fatale: Rachael Rosen.